Case Number 24264: Small Claims Court

OZZY OSBOURNE: SPEAK OF THE DEVIL

The Charge

Fully authorized release of this historic concert!

The Case

Ozzy Osbourne has not led an easy life. From growing up in a poor, industrial
part of England to years of drug-addicted musical turmoil, he's not had the best
luck. I can't speak for him personally, but from my fan perspective, the darkest
day of his musical career would have to be the death of Randy Rhoads. Ozzy had
just left Black Sabbath and formed a kick-ass solo band with the neoclassical
stylings of Rhoads front and center. Two solo albums followed (Blizzard of
Ozz and Diary of a Madman) that, while not quite as groundbreaking,
could stand tall next to any album by Osbourne's former band. Riding high from
these albums and about to embark on a tour, Rhoads was killed in an accident
with a small aircraft in December 1981. The show, however, must go on, and Ozzy
and his band (with replacement guitarist Brad Gillis) embarked on a six-month
American tour, a tour which culminated in a show in the summer of 1982 at the
Irvine Meadows in California. This show is documented in Ozzy Osbourne: Speak
of the Devil, and it's a must-have for fans.

Mixing a set list that relies heavily on his first album ("Mr
Crowley," "Crazy Train," "Suicide Solution") and some
Sabbath songs ("Iron Man" and "Paranoia"), Speak of the
Devil is vintage Ozzy in the early '80s. He's flying here without a net:
he's not with is former band, and he's just lost a friend and trusted
co-conspirator. Though the world knows him now as the loveable crank from The
Osbournes, there was no indication in 1982 that he wouldn't fade into
obscurity, finishing out his days playing lounge version of Sabbath tunes to
aging hippies.

As if he could envision such a fate, Ozzy refused to go gently into that
good night. Speak of the Devil finds him burning the candle at both ends.
The track list is nearly perfect for this period with an effective mix of newer
material ("Over the Mountain"), well-received solo songs ("Crazy
Train") and those few concessions to his role in Black Sabbath. Little has
changed about Ozzy's performance throughout the years. He stalks the stage,
claps his hands, mugs with his bandmates, and sings his heart out. He's in fine
voice and he owns these songs like he's been playing them for decades rather
than years.

At the time, Speak of the Devil was one of the more ambitious tours
making the circuit. Not quite KISS, but close: there's a mock-medieval backdrop,
the drums are on an impossibly-high riser, and there is fog and lasers galore.
The spectacle looks a bit cheesy three decades later, but that's been Ozzy's
stock-in-trade almost from the beginning. He's always been a touch theatrical,
and that kind of theater never takes itself too seriously.

Though Rhoads is obviously missed, the other band members hold their own
with the songs. The de rigueur drum/guitar solos are impressive. More
importantly, the band does an excellent job of recreating the sound and tone of
the studio versions of these songs without making them sound like karaoke
covers.

The back of the box proudly proclaims this as a "Fully authorized
release of this historic concert!" Judging by the presentation, you'd never
know it. The video appears to be sourced from a VHS master. Colors are smeary,
black levels deep but lacking in detail, and the overall picture lacks
sharpness. Honestly, though, I didn't care one bit. If anything, the
less-than-stellar presentation of the video actually helped the concert,
smoothing over some of the rougher, '80s-inspired fashion choices. More
importantly, the full-frame transfer from VHS gives the show a cultish aspect,
like watching a bootleg back in '82. That kind of nostalgia only helps the show.
The sound, on the other hand, is almost perfect. Whether you choose the DTS
(5.1) or Dolby (2.0 and 5.1) option, you'll get a well-mixed, surprisingly clear
presentation of the concert. The top end is well-defined, never letting Ozzy's
vocals get muddied with the guitar, and the low end has good presence and lots
of thump.

The set's lone extra is a short essay in an included booklet by Ozzy's
bassist Rudy Sarzo. He discusses the tour and what it was like to play in the
wake of Rhoads' death. It's a nice addition, though I can't help but wish to
hear from Ozzy on the concert and that period in his life.

Of course there's very little about Ozzy Osbourne: Speak of the Devil
that will woo non-fans. Ozzy is still Ozzy, barreling through a set of tunes
that are at once socially conscious and slightly demonic. Yes, he's a bogeyman,
but he's also a bit Jiminy Cricket. Those not into his songs of drugs and death
should pass by in silence.

For fans of Ozzy Osbourne, Speak of the Devil is essential. The
maestro is in fine form, the set list is almost perfect, and not even the
absence of Randy Rhoads can keep the band from sounding tight. Though some might
quibble about the video presentation of the show, the audio (where it really
counts) is great. Worth a purchase for fans.